Train-lighting apparatus for compressed acetylene gas.



' No. 633,866. i Patentd sept. 2s, lass.

- l A. LnP'scHuTz L nu.l T oLTz.

'TRAIN LIGHTNG APPARATUS FUR COMPRESSE!) ACETYLENE GAS.

. (Applicnton tiled Aug. 3, 1899.2

(lllndei.)

BYCPM TH II R AT TC) H N EVS.

or having its seams filled with a substance such as 'soft solder all danger of gas explosion in the tank from a fire at a distance therefrom and near the high-pressure pipe is avoided.

As a further safeguard against explosion of the gas within the tank, we prefer to provide a relief-valve in connection therewith, which consists in providing` a threaded plug 14 within an opening in the'wall of the tank, said plug having a central opening 15 and a valve-seat 1b to receive a disk 17, held thereon bythe pressurefof gas within the-tank and pivotally connected to a lever 18, that extends through said opening 15 and is in turn pivotally supported on a lug 19, provided on said plug, as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 18 is provided with an arm 20, fitting within a slot oropenngin the end of the bar 2l, said bar being composed of zinc or similar substancev quickly affected by changes of temperature, secured at one end of said tank, preferably directly beneath the car-body, by screws or bolts and at its other end held in position by a guide 22.

Acetylene gas under pressure will not eX- plode from sudden shock or continued vibration, but will become disassociated at a telnperature of about 1,4320 Fahrenheit, followed by a great increase of pressure and consequent explosion. This fact has rendered the use of acetylene gas dangerous, especially in connection with railway-trains, where a lire, as in a burning Wreck, might cause the explosion of a number of tanks and a great loss of life and destruction of property. In the event of the coach taking fire after a wreck or from other causes the temperature around the gas-tank and the high-pressure pipe will soon be raised, and when it reaches about 400 Fahrenheit either the solder in the seams of the tank or the high-pressure pipe or the material of which the high-pressure pipe is composed will fuse sufficiently to cause a leak and permit the escape of the gas from the tank before the temperature has reached the danger-point or before the gas has been heated suficientlyto cause its disassociation. At the same time the zinc bar 21, being preferably directly beneath and nearthe car-body, will quickly become heated and, expanding longitudinally, will open the relief-valve and permit the gas to escape from the tank.

lVe do not wish to be confined to the use of the particular material shown and described herein for rendering the seams of the tank or the high-pressure pipe fusible at a certain predetermined temperature, as any other substance fusible at a comparatively low tem perature may be used, nor do we wish to be confined to the particular means shown for connecting the gas-tank to the train-service pipe, nor to the particular construction of the relief# valve, as various modifications of the same'; lnay be made Without departing from our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentw 1. A reservoir or tank for compressed acetylene gas covered, except over its seams, with a suitable non-conductor of heat, and said seams being filled with a material which when subjected to heat will fuse and permit the escape of before its point of dis-association has been reached.

2. A reservoir or tank for compressed acetylene gas covered, except over its seams, with a suitable non-conductor of heat, said seams being filled with material adapted to fuse at a comparatively low temperature and permit the escape of gas from the tank, a relief-valve provided in said tank, and means for automatically opening said valve when the temperature outside the tank has reached a certain predetermined point, substantially as described.

A train lighting apparatus for compressed acetylene gas, com prisinga reservoir or tank-having its seams filled with a material adapted to fuse at a comparatively low temperature, a high -pressure pipe leading from `said tank and also fusible at a comparatively low temperature, a reduoing-valve, a lowpressure or train-service pipe leading therefrom, and suitable gas-burners provided in said service-pipe.

i. A train lighting apparatus for compressed acetylene gas, comprising a reservoir or tank covered, except over its seams, with a suitable non-conductor of heat, said seams being filled with a material adapted to fuse and leak at a comparatively low temperature, a high-pressure pipe alsoy adapted to fuse or leak at a comparatively low temperature, areducing-valve, a low-pressu re service-pipe leading therefrom, and suitable gas jets or burners provided in said service-pipe.

5. A train lighting apparatus for compressed acetylene gas, comprising a reservoir or tank covered, except over its seams, With a suitable non-conductor of heat and having` its seams filled with material fusible at a comparatively low temperature, a relief-valve provided in said reservoir, means for automatically opening said valve when the temperature outside the reservoir has reached a certain predetermined point, a high-pressure pipe leading from said reservoir, and fusible at a comparatively low temperature, a reducing-valve, a low-pressure service-pipe connected therewith, and gas jets or burners provided in said service-pipe,substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 31st day of July, 1899.

ARTHUR LIPSCHUTZ. MAX TOLTZ.

In presence of A. D. PAGE, W. H. PALMER.

IOO 

